Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
10086sunset
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/16
#1Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 7:44am
http://nypost.com/2017/05/30/why-this-years-tony-awards-may-be-a-little-muted/
In Rudin's defense, the viewing party benefitting BC/EFA was a nice thought.
#2Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 8:22am
The Tony producers are stupid for not caving. And so is Rudin for letting "Penny in my pocket" be seen on the Tony Awards. It's a cute song but it's going to fall flatter on that stage than CZJ , the FOLLIES performance or other beloved shows that produce disappointing Tony performances.
The only real loser here is the Tony Awards. They need Bette more than she or the producers of Dolly need the award show.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#3Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 8:31am
The only real loser here is the Tony Awards. They need Bette more than she or the producers of Dolly need the award show.
"
If the Tonys are worried about producers being nice to them and putting their stars on the show, then perhaps they should stop demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars from them to appear. Not to mention, you know, doing things like including cruise ship Hairspray on their show.
Not saying I agree with Rudin, but at the end of the day, it's his money and he can do whatever he wants with it with no obligation to anyone else.
#4Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 8:53am
I don't understand why they can't restage a number for the live telecast. I would think that shows in the past have had to make some changes for the live Broadcast.
Just give the world Love.
Jazzman714
Chorus Member Joined: 7/5/16
#5Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:00am
Restaging means a lot of extra time (and money) for rehearsal. Why bother when the show doesn't need the publicity? Rudin's explanation makes a lot of sense to me. The Tony committee should accept his offer about the free Tony viewing party. It was a nice gesture and a great solution. And clearly Rudin is working all the negotiating angles by offering "Penny in My Pocket" - it is a cute, slight solo that will fail miserably on TV. And he knows it. And he knows the Tony committee knows it...
#6Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:29am
Rudin's excuse is bogus- the title number has the dancers jump over the passerelle, but Before the Parade Passes By doesn't. There is no reason, beyond his own greed and hubris, that the number couldn't be restaged. Every year, every show has to do this- he doesn't suddenly get an exemption because his show is a hit.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
#7Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:34am
I don't recall the ensemble making much use of the passerelle at all in "Before the Parade Passes By."
So the other productions are able to cobble together medleys that don't exist in their show and then stage and rehearse them, but Hello, Dolly! can't re-think a number?
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Updated On: 5/31/17 at 09:34 AM
#8Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:49am
Kad said: "I don't recall the ensemble making much use of the passerelle at all in "Before the Parade Passes By."
So the other productions are able to cobble together medleys that don't exist in their show and then stage and rehearse them, but Hello, Dolly! can't re-think a number?"
And Great Comet, a show that had to rebuild the theater it's in, is able to figure out how to adapt to the space at Radio City.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#9Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:49am
this is another one of those threads that exhibits the naivete of much of this board in full bloom. This is all about free publicity and guess what it has worked.
oh and PS: producers do not have to have their arms twisted to spend the money; they are begging to. And PS #2, who do you think "the Tonys" are if not the self-same producers?
#10Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:52am
...The 7 dubious posts pointing out the logical flaws in Rudin's argument exhibit the naivete of this board in full bloom?
Not the two other substantially longer, hysterical and outraged threads about this topic?
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#11Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:52am
The last three years when the Tonys were held at Radio City Music Hall, a passerelle was a part of the set.
BroadwayRox3588
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/16
#12Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:53am
HogansHero said: "this is another one of those threads that exhibits the naivete of much of this board in full bloom. This is all about free publicity and guess what it has worked.
oh and PS: producers do not have to have their arms twisted to spend the money; they are begging to. And PS #2, who do you think "the Tonys" are if not the self-same producers?
"
In all fairness, don't all of the "Riedel on _____________" threads exhibit this? Along with Riedel's articles, themselves?
#13Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:53am
I'm already over this Dolly situation.
The good news is that it sounds like LuPone and Ebersole will be performing, which is not surprising, but nice to see confirmed. A powerful performance of "Face to Face" should only help their consistent ticket sales.
#14Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 9:56am
Jeffrey Karasarides said: "The last three years when the Tonys were held at Radio City Music Hall, a passerelle was a part of the set.
"
But it was like, HUGE
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
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Joe Dee
Chorus Member Joined: 5/25/12
#15Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:02am
HogansHero said: "this is another one of those threads that exhibits the naivete of much of this board in full bloom. This is all about free publicity and guess what it has worked.
oh and PS: producers do not have to have their arms twisted to spend the money; they are begging to. And PS #2, who do you think "the Tonys" are if not the self-same producers?
Wait....How is this about free publicity when we are talking about a show that: a) sold out a long time ago and b) has the largest pre-sale of the season. Free publicity lends itself to being able to make something advantageous to a production. What pinnacle has Hello, Dolly NOT reached that would require them to be douchey about something for the sake of publicity?
"
NYadgal
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
#16Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:16am
This comment, in the article, pissed me off:
“I told the Tony producers that unless they wanted to watch 12 dancers falling into the pit live on CBS, doing either number at Radio City was simply a nonstarter,” he says.
Nobody believes for a minute that any dancers would all into a pit. The performance would be re-staged, just as EVERY performance from EVERY show is.
Absurd comment. Absolutely absurd.
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
#17Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:28am
Well Scott Rudin wouldn't HAVE this problem if they had just hired 12 Beamonesque dancers for the chorus. How short-sighted could he be?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#18Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:29am
The BC/EFA is a nice idea, but Rudin's reasons for wanting to perform at the Shubert are absurd.
Good to hear that LuPone & Ebersole are performing!!
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
RJ14
Understudy Joined: 2/3/16
#19Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:42am
Not to start any drama but Hello, Dolly! is the only nominated musical that is missing on this album http://www.playbill.com/article/track-list-announced-2017-tony-awards-season-compilation-album and it's the only musical this season that has not released any highlight videos.
I say BS on Rusin's excuses... and I wonder if these dramas will cost Dolly the revival win and maybe Patti or Christine will pull an upset.
Broadway61004
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/11
#20Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:48am
Let's also not forget that Donna Murphy starts performances the Tuesday after the Tonys, which means the stage managers are busy rehearsing her during the day and scheduling a put-in rehearsal with the entire cast, most likely next week. So while I agree it would be nice for them to perform, I can also understand why they wouldn't be thrilled about finding even more extra time to re-stage and rehearse a new number. Especially when they having nothing to gain since they're sold out for months.
#21Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:49am
RJ14 said: "I say BS on Rusin's excuses... and I wonder if these dramas will cost Dolly the revival win and maybe Patti or Christine will pull an upset."
YES! Revival upset! I'm gonna keep putting that juju out there for the next ten days! haha
"I shall stay until the wind changes."
#22Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:49am
It really does feel like Rudin is creating unnecessary drama for his production. I guess he feels it's so untouchable that none of this matters, but it doesn't seem like the best publicity to me. I believe it's all part of his plan to keep most of this production an elite top secret.
#23Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 10:53am
f*ck Scott Rudin.
(On second thought, blecccch.)
#24Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 11:17am
Broadway61004 said: "Let's also not forget that Donna Murphy starts performances the Tuesday after the Tonys, which means the stage managers are busy rehearsing her during the day and scheduling a put-in rehearsal with the entire cast, most likely next week. So while I agree it would be nice for them to perform, I can also understand why they wouldn't be thrilled about finding even more extra time to re-stage and rehearse a new number. Especially when they having nothing to gain since they're sold out for months. "
This is 100% their own fault. Rudin decided to have Murphy start literally the first performance post-Tony Awards. It's not like they didn't know they'd be nominated.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
#25Riedel on the Tony Awards and Bette not performing
Posted: 5/31/17 at 11:20am
Kad said: "...The 7 dubious posts pointing out the logical flaws in Rudin's argument exhibit the naivete of this board in full bloom?
Not the two other substantially longer, hysterical and outraged threads about this topic?"
In fairness to me, I DID say "another"
@Joe Dee, publicity (free or otherwise) is not the exclusive province of the needy. On your theory, why is Rudin spending a decent chunk of change on ad buys week in and week out?
